What Are the Top Employers of Ultrasound Technicians?

One of the best reasons to pursue a career in the medical world is that there are more and more jobs available with every year, no matter where you live. One of the best ways to find a job with the highest salary possible is to look at the top employers for your field. As an ultrasound tech, you have a number of employment options.

Hospitals are, by far, the largest employers of ultrasound techs. Most hospitals employ sonographers, and some employ them in every department, so specializing during your education and training will mean that you’re qualified for even more positions. As the job market expands, hospitals are projected to remain the largest employer of ultrasound techs, but the fast growth (and, thus, the most new jobs and job openings) will be in physician offices, outpatient health care facilities, and laboratories. Currently, the most positions across the country are found with the following employers, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics:

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Offices of Physicians
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
Outpatient Care Centers
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

With all of these employers, annual salaries are, on average, between $60,000 and $65,000. The employers that hire the most ultrasound techs aren’t necessarily those paying the highest, however. If you want to work for a top employer in terms of annual salary, look to the following types of employers of ultrasound techs:

Local Government: $78,080
Employment Services: $71,890
Office Administrative Services: $68,110
Management of Companies and Enterprises: $65,490
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: $64,760

Of course, the above-listed annual salaries are simply averages, so the potential to earn more, even six figures, exists. As you can probably tell, however, you likely won’t qualify for these positions straight out of school with just an associate’s degree. Although that’s all you need, education-wise, to get started in the field of ultrasound technology, the candidates who are hired at top-paying facilities usually have bachelor’s degree and advanced training in a specialized area. The most certifications and special training you have, the better candidate you’ll be for employers. Even in this growing field, the job market can be quite competitive, especially for top-paying positions, so having just an associate’s degree may not be enough for the ultrasound tech job you want most.

Remember, higher salaries don’t just depend on advanced education. You’ll also be offered higher salaries as you get more experienced, and can receive raises annually from your employer based on job performance, so skills like patient care, diagnosing, and responsibility are all important. You’ll also earn more money if you’re willing to relocate, as certain areas of the country have a higher demand for ultrasound technicians. Right now, the highest demand for ultrasound techs is found in Florida, followed by Connecticut and New Jersey. Be flexible about where you live, and you’ll have more options when you’re finished with your education and it’s time to apply for ultrasound tech jobs.

Top Online Ultrasound Schools

AS in Healthcare	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix is America's largest accredited online university. With their associate's degree in Health Care, Phoenix offers its students a way to prepare for an entry-level position in the ultrasound technician field.
AS in Medical Assisting AS in Health IT	Kaplan University — Kaplan University is one of the largest accredited online colleges, and their associate's degrees in medical assisting or in health information technology can help you gain the education you need to begin your ultrasound career. This is a fast and flexible degree that can provide the foundation you need for your ultrasound technical career.
AS in Medical Office Admin BS in Health Services Mgmt	Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course.
AS in Health IT	DeVry University — With their associate's degree in health information technology program, DeVry University prepares students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
AS in Medical Assisting	Keiser University — Apply for Keiser's Medical Assisting associate's degree to fast-track your ultrasound technician career. Learn how to use ultrasound, x-ray and EKG equipment with your training here.
AAS in Health IT AAS in Health Administration	Carrington College California — For students interested in learning more about health claims, ultrasound technology, medical coding, insurance billing, and anatomy and medical terminology, consider the AAS degree in health information technology or the AAS degree in healthcare administration from Carrington College California (formerly known as Western Career College). Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared for careers in medical offices, hospitals, and more.
AS in Health Administration	Brookline College — Graduates of Brookline College's AS in healthcare administration degree program will have real-world knowledge about ethical, legal, and practical issues related to healthcare and will be able to demonstrate their skills in maintaining medical records and being an administrator in a healthcare environment.
AS in Health Administration	Iowa Central College — Iowa Central Community College offers online associate's degree programs in health care administration and human services. The programs comprise 66 credit hours, which can be completed in two years. Iowa Central College is fully accredited by the Institution of Higher Education.
AAS in Medical Billing	Lincoln College — The AAS in medical billing degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of medical administrative work such as billing and insurance coding. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more.
AS in Medical Assisting	San Joaquin Valley College — San Joaquin Valley College's AS degree in clinical medical assisting is designed to prepare its students with the knowledge of technical, ethical, and social issues required to advance their careers in the healthcare industry, and prepares students for careers in ultrasonography.
AS in Health Administration	California Coast University — Students looking for placement in an entry-level healthcare management position soon after graduation need look no further than California Coast University's associate's in health care administration degree program.
Click here to see more schools that offer radiology degrees